Method of molding and vulcanizing hollow articles



y 25,1944. R. W. BROWN 2,354,446

I METHOD OF MOLDING AND "VULCANIZING HOLLOW ARTICLES- F11ed Deer 9, 1942 4 Sfiee cSE-Sheet l Y r I Am II/I/III/II IIIIIII/IIIIII/II/ .5 OWN '65 ROY R 6% w July 25,1944, R. w. BROWN 2,354,446 umnon OF MOLDING AND VULCANIZING HOLLOW ARTICLES Filed Dec. 9. 1942 4 Sheds-Sheet 2.

QOY W. EQOWN R. w; BROWN July 25, 1944.

- METHOD DF=MOLDING AND vu cAm-z-x'm HOLLOW ARTICLES I Filemngc. 9;? 1942. 4 Sheets-Sheet s lag ROY W. OQOWH y 25 1944. R. WQBRO'WN 2,354,4 6-

, METHOD OF Momma mnvunckflizgne onLow ARTICLES v Fi1ed-De $194k 4 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 na\' f nsa I ROY GROWN Patented July 25 1944 METHOD OF MOLDING AND HOLLOW ARTICLES Boy W. Brown,

stone Tire & Rubber C corporation of Ohio Akron, Ohio, assignorto' The Fire-.

ompanmnkron, Ohio, a."-

Application December 9, 1942; Serialllo. 468,336

6 Claims.

This inventionrelates to molding and vulcanizing flexible pressure containers, and more particularly to molding andvulcanizing pneumatic tires.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved method of molding and vulcanizing flexi-' ble hollow containers such as tires.

A further object is to shape a pulley band or drum-built article to torus form and to vulcanize same without the useof an expansible core, and with the molding pressure medium such as air, steam,

water, carbon dioxide gas or the like, directly in contact with the inner surface of the article. In

bead sealing ring and a portion of a tire mold during vulcanization of the tire, the sealing ring serving to establish a fluid tight contact with beads of a tire and to mold the inside faces of inside of portion, is clamped on'its bead ends between a the beads to a predetermined contour. The inner walls of the now tire-shaped band are subjected to direct fluid pressure so as to press the band against the molding surface,'the band being vulcanized thereafter in said mold.

The invention. also includes amethod' of making tires which comprises clamping a cylindrical band lined onitsinside with an impervious rubber compound and having a rubberized cord fabric body, marginal bead'portions and a tread portion,

between two spaced and coaxially arranged tire mold portions, moving said mold portions toward each other along their common axis so as to fully enclose the band. This method includes-expanding the band in the mold, by direct influence of fluid pressure,thereby'pressing the band against the mold walls, directly cooling the inner surface of the tire-shaped band while subjecting the outsideof the band to vulcanizing temperature, whereupon after a certain time replacing the cooling medium in the cavity of the band by a medium, e. water, a vulcanizing temperatureand a pressure adapted to complete the vulcanization of the tire.

Of the accompanying drawings:

and a tire mold, in accordance with the invention, showing how assembly is effected before the band isldistended to tire shape;

Figure 2 is a diametric sectional view of a finished tire made from the band illustrated in Figure 1; in accordance with the method of the invention, and a mold in which the tire is confined during vulcanization;

Figure 3 is also a diametric sectional view of a finished tire made from the band illustrated in Figure 1. in accordance with the method of the invention, shown in the position the tire will occupy during vulcanization in a mold which mold is adaptedto circulation of a pressure and curing medium within the tire and in direct con-' tact therewith, said tire being mounted on curing rings with a sealing ring in position;

Figure 4 is an elevation of a fragment of the the curing ring illustrating-the construction of the curing ring at the valve stem passageway portion;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the tire of Figure 3 on the tires curing-rings with a sealing ring mounted in the tire and illustrating the manner in which the curing rings are spaced apart immediately before. the vulcanizing mold shown in Fig. 3 presses said rings together;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the finished tire shown in Figure 3 mounted on a circumferentially divided tire rim with a-tire sealing ring and showing the relative position of the tire, tire beads, sealing ring and the tire road rim, when the tire is mounted for use in service without an inner tube, and before the divided rim is bolted firmly together;

Figure 7 is'the same as. Figure 6, except only to ether against the sealing ring, the view being taken at a point removed from the valve stem shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an enlarged plan of a portion of the sealing ring connections shown in Figure 3 Figure 9 isa section on line l1-i|.of Figure 8. This application is a; continuation-impart of my co-pending, application Serial'No; 337,235, flied May 25, 1940, as a continuation-in-part of my application, Serial Number 75,168, filed April a 18, 1936, which is now Patent No. 2,221,470, dated November 12, 1940.

In operation this invention employs apparatus, certain features of whichare disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,908,282, granted May 9, 1933, and also prior Patent No. 2,265,346, dated December 9, 1941, of which I am a colnventor.

Figure 1 illustrates a tire band ll that has been assembled on a drum type tire building drum, not shown, an manufactured in accord ance with the usual drum building practice which 7 is well known to the art. The cylindrical band upwardly extending bead portion It. It is to be understood that the mold sections "a and It may be carried on proper supporting members of any type now commonly used by tire manufacturers. With both marginal edge bead portions 83 against the mold sections "a and 86, a closed chamber A is formed by said mold sections with their closed covers I and I" and the tireor band 8|." The mold sections are next brought togather or caused to register, however, in order to properly position the tire or band ll within the mold cavity air under pressure is permitted to enter the chamber A through pipe I12 which forces the tread or central portion of the band I I outwardly, the inextensible bead portions ll remaining in contact with bead seats I13 and 1130 of the mold sections. Only enough air sufllcient pressure to hold the tire in contact with the mold cavity, while the. outside of the tire is subjected to vulcanizing temperature. The tire cords are thus molded into proper toroidal form and set before the inner coating of impervious rubber becomes softened by the elevated temperature. Thereafter the cold water in the tire cavity is replaced by a fluid pressure medium, e. g., water, at the vulcanizing temperature and pressure to complete the the 81 as illustrated in Figure 2. The tire mold sections 86a and 86 are pressure is built up in the chamber Ato prevent the band or tire II from buckling inwardly as the bead portions of the tire are being brought toward each other and just before the tire bead portions contact the sealing ring the air is allowed to escape from chamber A through pipe I12. 1 As the .mold sections come into register as shown steam jacketed in a conventional manner and carry respective pipes I10 and I'll which makes anautomatic connection with each other when the mold section 06a registers against the mold section 86 as will be understood by those familiar with the art. Steam from any suitable source is supplied to themold section lid'throughdnlet pipe I10 through proper connections and controls (not shown, but of any common type) said steam passing to section 86 through pipes I10; Outlet pipe I12 from mold section I is connected to suitable .steamtraps .(not shown). centers, of the said mold sections are closed by covers I65 and I" which may be welded to the mold sections or otherwise held in position. By reference to the tire and mold of Fig. 1 it will be seen that a channel shaped bead sealing ring I" has been mounted in tireor band ll and that the sealing ring I50 has diametrically opposite duct members or stems ISI and I" which may be .attached to the base of said sealingring I" by any method found satisfactory. These members have threaded ends adapted to receive attachment nuts I" and I respectively, which nuts are'carried on the ends of flexible hose III and lit respectively. Said flexible hose extends from 7 pi IOI and I6! respectively. The pipes, one an et I6I and one an outlet III, are threaded throu e bossed portions I" and I of'the bottom cover plate I" with a threaded end of said Pi s projecting :beyond said bottom cover portions ll, after-which the band I and sealing.

rlnglll are placed in the mold section" as shownJn 1. .Next the attaching nuts Ill and Fem-down on the threaded ends of The open in. Fig. 2 the sealing ring I50 is'flrmly pressed against the said bead portions so that an air and water tight seal is formed between the sealing ring and the skim coat of impervious rubber Ii. With the mold closed. as it is sometimes referred to, the molding and vulcanizing of the tire proceeds by turning cold ,water under pres sure into the tire through pipe "I, hose III and a valve stem IBI. By this water pressure the tire is forced outwardly against the steam jacketed mold sections where-the outside of the tire is subjected to vulcanizing temperature, while the inside of the tire remains relatively cool and the rubber ll unsoftened. After the outside of the band or tire has been molded and pressed into its final shape forming the finished tire 81,

then the vulcanization of the molded tire is completed by opening the outlet pipe I" and tum-- ing in hot water through the inlet pipe IBI, thuscirculating hot water through the tire in direct contact with the inside thereof. Since the cold water keeps the rubber on the inside of the tire from becoming soft until the outside of the time has softened from the heat of the mold and has become molded it will be seen that when the inside rubber of the tire becomes soft, little or no movement of'the rubber results and accordingly no ruptures in the inside rubber coat of the tire results and therefore a tire whose inside will not permit air to pass therethrough has been produced. To remove the tire from the mold composed of sections a. and I. the water pressure is shut on and drained outthrough outlet I82. The section "a lifted from contact with the tire, the connections with the sealing ring stems broken and the tireand sealing ring removed from the mold section I. after which the sealing ring is dismounted from the tire l1 com- I pleting one cycle of the manufacturing operation.

.the tire whatever pressure mediumthat may beused; suchas, for esample, water or steam. This vulcaniser is substantially the some as that shown the stems lll'and Ill respectivelmafter which;

the mold section an is positioned against the "f In Figures 3 and 5 there are illustrated vulcanizing apparatus adapted to circulate within in Figures 11'. 12, 18 and 14 of applicant's Patent No. 1,908,282, issued May 9, 1883, however, some modifications have been necessary for its adaptation to the present invention and accordingly it will now be briefly described in connection with the-vulcanization of the tire l1 shown in Figure 2 ofthepresentapplication.

by means of sleeves III When the drumbuilt tire or band an is to be vulcanized in the mold shown in Figures 3 and 5 the tire is pre-shapedand mounted on conventional curing rings 94,94 with a rigid sealing ring 9| in position within the tire. The ring 9| has outwardly extending flanges 92 and 93. (See Fig-' ure 4.) The pre-shaping of the tireris donein any mannerfound satisfactory, as for example, on a Vacuum shaper, several types of which have been in commercial'use' for many years. After the tire has been-removed from the tire shaper the sealing ring 9| is placed in the tire and the tire seen that the marginal bead portions 83 are too wide to permit the curing rings 94, 94 to'completely close or register.. Therefore, when the assembly of the tire rim and" sealing, ring is laid-in a tire mold and the mold is closed the curin rings will be forced together and the tire "beads 83 will be compressed to conform to the shape of the space defined between the sealing ring and the curing rings, in which-space and in such compressed condition, vulcanization of the bead portions of v the tire takes place, with the result that the said bead. portions permanently retain substantially such molded-shape. The sealing ring III is provided with two diametricallyopposite duct stems 9B and 96a shown in Figure 3 and as will be understood by those familiar with the art, the assembled tire and curing rings are laid in a vulcanizing mold, the said mold being closed and an internal pressure medium, such as water or steam is .led into the tire throughthe duct stems. In the conventional method, of course, the said duct stems led into a curing bag mounted in the tire.

In the present, invention the curing bag isomitted.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 7 and 8, it will be seen that the vulcanizer there shown comprises a steam jacketed mold I00 consisting of an upper portion IM and a lower portion I02, saidportions having registering recesses therein which together constitute a mold opening conforming in shape to the exterior contour of a tire molded therein. The duct stems 95 and 95a extending inwardly from the sealing ring 9| passes through outlet openings I03 and? I04 formed between the curing rings 94,94. A supply line I05 and an outlet line I 05aextend upwardly through a sleeve I08 and areconnected by flexiblebranch ducts |0'I,"I0I to connection members I08, I08 arranged for cooperation with'connection members I09, I09 on the stems 96 and 96a. Connection, members I08 are shiftable in supporting member H0, H0

in a sleeve'niember I I2 mounted on said support-.

outwardly thereon by springs III, III.' These supporting members I00 have jaws IIO, I I8 thereon provided with downwardly tapered openings H9, H9 in the upper surfaces thereof adapted to guide connection members I09'into cooperation with connection members I08, members I00 having conical sockets I0, and member I09, 9. conical plug I09a; for engaging in socket I00a.'

When the assembled tire'and curing ring are laid in. the lower portion I02 of the mold I00 the connection members I09 are pushed down in jaws I I0 into cooperation with connection members I00. The upper mold portion |0I is then pressed, either mechanically or otherwise, onto the lower vulcanizer portion I02 to close the mold. The mold is locked against opening from the internal molding pressure within the tire by any-suitable means, as by a conventional locking ring I20. It is to be understood that, if desired, the upper and lower portions of themold I00 may be mounted mercially in the industry. The mold sections or portions IM and I02 areeach chambered as at. I2I and I22, respectively, for the introduction of The portions I0I and [02am accurately guided into mating relation by meansof dowels or other suitable means, not shown." The molding and vuleanizing of the-tire may be accomplished in a manner similar to thatcdescribed inconncction with Figs. 1 and 2, it being understood, of course,v that the inlet and outlet lines be utilized in the same manner as the inlet and outlet lines IBI and I62 of Fig. 2.

It will now be seen that the above described method of manufacturing tires produces a tire such as the tire 81. which is adapted for use in service as a tubeless tire. Figures 6 and '7 illustrate a tubeless mounting of tire 01. This mounting I30 comprises a wheel assembly that includes a wheel disc I3I having a tire engaging flange I32 at its outer edge. The wheel disc I3I combines with an annular rim section I33 having' an outwardly dire I34 at one edge thereof and a radially inwardly directed flange I35 adapted to abut against a thereon which are slidable ing members, said supporting members being nor- I mallylurged inwardly of the vulcanizer by sprin H3 betweensaidconnection members andthe supporting fmembers.

between the suppo Sylphons-||4 are secured rting members-"I I0and' the con-' nectionmembers I00-about the sleeves II,I--and"= I f2,- and flexible branch, running out ofa supply.

ducts I-lia and IISb line lIiiare connected tofthe interiorsof qsaid "sylphons- I I 4-through the 1 1 supporting membersIIO.

. They supporting members- I I0aa1'e. shiftably mounted on rods IIIi, .I I hand; are normally urged however, it be noted portion of the yheel disc I3| formed at the other edge thereof. Rim bolts I36 extend through holes I31 to secure the wheel disc and rim section together to form a split rim and wheel unit. Bolts 136 are of sufficient length to permit the rim section I33 to be laterally spaced an appreciable distance from the wheel disc I3I when the bolts extend loosely between the wheel disc and the rim section. A. valve receiving slot I39 is formed in'the flange I35 of the rim section I33 which slot extends over half way in through the section I33, as shown. A corresponding slot I31 is formed in the wheel disc I3I and is adapted to be alignedwith the slot I39, when the wheel is assembled A sealing ring flanges HI and I42 is mounted between the marginel bead portions; 03 ofthe tire 81.- An anglethe base of the sealing ring, 40 in any manner dium such as 'air, may I43,.intothe tire 81'. of the-flanges I and "|42correspondclosely to that of the flanges 92 amissr the rigid sealing 9| used to mold the'fsaid' bead' portions," at thesaid flanges or Ting;

the sealing ring I40 flare laterallyupwardly and by any oneof several methods now used com-.

a fluid heating'medium such .as steam therein.

I05 andI05a will cted tire engaging flange- I having outwardly extending valve innertubewalve stem I43-ls attached to tire I'I' first, when said tire is pressed inwardly against the sealing ring I40 by the flanges I32 and I34 as willnow be explained.

In operation the mounting of the wheel assembly is accomplished by first placing the ring I40 partially molded and vulcanized and thereby becomes more nearly impervious to water, air, or steam after which the cold water is replaced with hot water, steam or air, and the inside rubber plies vulcanized. By this method the inside rubs ber plies are prevented from becoming softened by heat during the tire molding operation, at

v which timethere is a considerable amount of in the tire 8.1 in the usual manner of mounting tire bead lock ring, tire flaps and the like. Then with the disc I3I removed from the rim section I33 the tire 81, together with the ring I40, is placed in position on the rim section I 33 with the valve stem I43 in position in the slot I30. Next the disc I3I, with the valve opening I31 aligned with the slot I 31 and the valve stem I43 projecting through said opening I31, receives the section I33 in bolted relation, the bolts I36 being used for this purpose. This manner of assemblywill be understood by those familiar with the art and further-discussion is considered to be unnecessary, however, it is to be noted by reference to Fig. 7 that the invention contemplates a width for the sealing ring I40, and the tire bead portions 83 which together are a greater width than the width between the tire engaging flanges I34 and I32 when the members I3I and I35 are in contact. Consequently as the rim section I33-is drawn toward the disc I3I by tightening down nuts I44 the outer edges of the flanges HI and I42 of the sealing ring I40 will first contact the inner portion of the tire 01. As the members- I33 and I3I are drawn toward each other the appreciable distance they were separated until they are in abutted relation the tire portions 03 are firmly clamped between the sealing ring flange I4I andthe rim section flange I34 on one side of the assemblyand between'the flange I42 and I32 on the other side. The sealing ring 0 is preferably composed of spring steel so that as the tire presses against the peripheral edges of the flanges HI and I42 these flanges will be pressed laterally inwardly, whereby a positive air tight .seal between the inside of the tire and the sealing ring is assured, since any fatigue or flow of rubber away from the pressure of the sealing ring I40 will be followed up by the laterally inwardly pressed spring steel flanges I and I42. It is to be noted that upon flrst contact of the edges of the flanges HI and I42 with the rubber 85 that almost a line contact is made which insures high unit pressure contact, however, as the edges of the flanges sink into the rubber more surface of the flanges become progressively involved thereby providing a limit to the distance the flanges may sink into the rubber coat 35 whereby contact between said flanges and the fabric plies of the tire is prevented. It is also to be noted water, air, or steam or the like. This lmpervious-. ness of the inside rubber plies is made positive by the method of vulcanizing wherein cold water is used against-the inner rubber plies as a molding pressure medium until the rubberized fabric of the tire, or article being vulcanized, is at least I4 commotion and shifting of the material composing a tire which movement of the material tends to cause strains and ruptures through which air under pressure would pass.

- It will now be seenthat applicant has produced a tubeless tire by a method not heretofore known and that applicant's invention is a substantial contribution to the art, particularly so, in that it represents a reduction in the amount of rubber heretofore required to provide a given tire mileage.

Modifications may be resorted to without departing from. the spiritof the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The method of vulcanizing hollow articles comprising rubber which comprises injecting cold fluid into the interior of the 'article, heating the article from the exterior thereof for an interval sufllcient to effect partial vulcanization of the structure, and thenreplacing the cold fluid with fluid at vulcanizing temperature and article in a mold, injecting cold fluid into the interior of the article, heating the mold to initiate vulcanization of the article from the exterior thereof, and thereafter replacing the cold fluid with fluid under pressure and at vulcanizing temperature.

3. The method of vulcanizing hollow. articles comprising rubber which comprises enclosing the article in a mold applying pneumatic pressure to the interior of the article to press it firmly against the mold walls, replacing the pneumatic pressure with cold water under pressure. heating the mold to initiate vulcanization of the article from the exterior thereof, and thereafter replacing the cold fluid with fluid under pressure and at vulcanizing temperature and circulating said fluid to complete vulcanization of the article.

4. The method of vulcanizing hollow articles comprising fabric and lined with rubber which comprises applying vulcanizing'heat to the exterior of the article while maintaining cold water under pressure in direct contact with the rubber lining of the structure for an interval sumcient to set" the rubber. about the fabric of the structure, replacing the cold .water with water under pressure at vulcanizing temperature, and circulating the hot water therein, until complete vulcanization of the'article is effected.

5. .The method of molding a pneumatic tire having its inner surface completely covered with rubber which comprises sup-- the interior of said tire at lower than a rubber softening thereafter, raising the temperature of teriorofthetlretovul them complete vulcanizationof the tire.-

ponents of said tire and to force the outer rubber 6. The method of vulcanizing tubeiess tires comprising an outer rubber layer, a. body of rubbe'rizedtabric or cords, and an impervious inner lining of rubber, which includes the steps of enclosing the unvuicanized tire in a. mold,

applying internal cold fluid pressure against said inner iiningto compress and compact the comlayer into intimate contact with said mold while heating said mold, and then completing the vulcanization by heating both the interior and ex- 5 terior or the tire.

ROY W. BROWN. 

